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Ch. VII.]
the Emperor Napoleon.
73

tickets. Some slips of paper were prepared, on one of which was written the fatal word "la mort," and the rest were blanks. Whether accidentally, or by Napoleon's contrivance, I know not, but I was the first victim, and the emperor, taking a cambric handkerchief out of his pocket, tied it tightly over my eyes, asking me, if I could see. "I cannot see you," I replied; but a faint gleam of light did certainly escape through one corner, making my darkness a little less visible. Napoleon then taking his hat, waved it suddenly before my eyes, and the shadow and the wind it made, startling me, I drew back my head: "Ah, leetle monkee," he exclaimed in English, "you can see pretty well." He then proceeded to tie another handkerchief over the first. which completely excluded every ray of light. I was then placed in the middle of the room, and the game began. The emperor commenced by creeping stealthily up to me, and giving my nose a very sharp

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